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The California State University (CSU) system’s board meeting Tuesday was rocked by an outpouring of emotional residents and alumni reacting to a decision to sue the federal government.
CSU and San Jose State University announced Friday that they are filing the lawsuit to challenge the U.S. Department of Education’s recent findings that SJSU violated Title IX in its handling of a transgender volleyball player from 2022-24.
Tuesday’s meeting turned into a war of words. Many speakers ignored instructions to address the board and instead addressed other speakers in the crowd.
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One woman, a CSU staffer, said she showed up with the intention of discussing budget cuts, but abandoned that plan to face “transphobia” from other speakers when she heard what they were saying.
“The fact that I have to get up here and have to say trans women are women and that’s what I have to spend my time on is absurd. Shame on you. Shame on you all,” she said.
The female employee then took aim at the “save women’s sports” speeches that spoke from the perspective of lesbian women.
“And shame on you for using lesbian politics as a front for your transphobia because this lesbian has had plenty of girlfriends with penises,” she said.
The moderator then instructed the speakers to “bring your comments to the board. That’s what we’re here to hear.”
But other speakers did not direct their comments to the board.
Prominent California “save women’s sports” activist Beth Bourne directed her comments at any transgender people listening.
“I want to talk to anyone listening who is transgender or non-binary. You’ve been lied to,” Bourne said. “They’re making money off your body. If you take cross-sex hormones, you’re hurting yourself. You’re hurting yourself permanently. And just remember that your mom and dad love you more than anyone else in the world.”
The moderator then interrupted the next speaker to again remind the audience to direct comments to the board.
“I want to remind everybody, please talk to us. Don’t talk to each other. Thank you,” he said.
Other speakers addressed their comments to the board.
An SJSU alumnus voiced his objection to CSU’s and SJSU’s decision to defy the Department of Education’s mandate.
“I am so disappointed that Cal State is no longer welcoming to women. I am here to support Title IX and speak a basic truth: Men cannot become women,” she said. “Everybody understands this in sports.”
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A current student who claimed to lead a club at SJSU called “Trans Saga” expressed support for the decision to sue the government.
“Our community has been angry, scared and tired. Today I am here to share my gratitude and support for the board’s decision,” the student said. “As a transgender student entering her third year at SJSU, I am asking you to listen to us and please continue to protect transgender students.”
Alison Foote, the treasurer of the Independent Council for Women’s Sport (ICONS), turned up to the meeting wearing an XX-XY Athletics jersey. She called the recent decision to sue “an embarrassment to the entire CSU system.”
“This is CSU-sanctioned sexual abuse of the women you are committed to protecting. Your internally inconsistent Title IX and DHR policies that prioritize gender identity over sex have created the hostile environment that is unfolding before you now, but most importantly for the 260,000 women enrolled at your universities,” Foote said.
SJSU and CSU announced their lawsuit Friday after the Department of Education determined that SJSU violated Title IX in its handling of a transgender volleyball player from 2022-24.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon responded Wednesday, warning institutions they have 10 days to change their tune or risk federal funding cuts and a referral to the U.S. Justice Department.
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“Based on the recipient’s proactive refusal to voluntarily negotiate resolution of OCR’s concerns, OCR has determined that a voluntary agreement will not be reached and we are at an impasse. OCR will issue a letter of impending enforcement action within 10 calendar days if a resolution agreement is not reached within the 10-day period,” a letter from McMahon said.
“Enforcement action may include initiation of an administrative process set forth in 20 USC § 1681, a seq.; 34 CFR Parts 100, 101, 106; and 20 USC § 1234, a seq. to suspend, terminate or refuse to provide or continue federal funding – or other means authorized by law, including referral to the Department of Justice. This letter does not constitute final agency action.”
SJSU and CSU have since responded to Pakinomist Digital’s request for a response to McMahon’s warning.
“We have shared several documents and resources on our website for you to refer to, including all related legal documents, FAQs and our official statement. As this remains an ongoing legal matter, CSU will not comment further at this time,” the response said.
SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson disputes the OCR’s findings.
“Because we believe OCR’s findings are not based on the facts or the law, SJSU and CSU filed a lawsuit (March 6) against the federal government to challenge these findings and prevent the federal government from taking punitive action against the university, including the potential withholding of critical federal funding,” Teniente-Matson said Friday.
TRUMP ADMIN RESPONDS AFTER SJSU SUES TO CHALLENGE TITLE IX INVESTIGATION INTO TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL
“This is not a step we take lightly. However, we have a responsibility to defend the integrity of our institution and the rule of law, while ensuring that every member of our community is treated fairly and in accordance with the law. Our position is simple: We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so.”
Teniente-Matson reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advocating for the LGBTQ community in the announcement.
“Our support for the LGBTQ members of our community who have experienced threats and harm over the past several years remains unwavering. We know the attention the university has received around this issue and the investigative process that followed has been disturbing to many in our community,” she said.
“We have heard the fear and anxiety this has created and recognize that it has been difficult to wait for the university’s response at a time already fraught with uncertainty.”
The conflict has been heightened by recent revelations from former SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusserwho revealed what it was like to share an apartment with Fleming in a Pakinomist Digital interview on Sunday.
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“You find yourself just enjoying yourself in bed with a man you know nothing about… I [was] unknowingly shared a bed at the time with a man,” she said.
“It’s hard to process. I don’t even know if I can say I’ve fully processed it to this day. It’s just that you get to know something for so long, you think something for so long, and you’re very normal about a situation, and then you come to find out that it’s all a lie.”
